joshi tm: I like the Extinction Chess board as it is. Why not allow the individual player to color his board and pieces as he likes?

Walter Montego: Extinction Chess board is the same color as regular chess. Most Chess variants have a different color border to help users quickly tell them that the game is not a normal chess game - and since Extinction chess plays just like regular chess, except for the rule that you can't lose 2 of the same pieces - it would be beter if the extinction chess board was a different color then regular chess. Nothing worse then having someone lose because they made a mistake about what game they are playing. Much beter to lose because the other person beat you, not because of a mistake (I would rather win because I beat someone, not because they did not relize what game they were playing - at least in my opinion).

maybe default have a different border color, but also the suggestion that people can change the border color of certain games if they don't like it?

BIG BAD WOLF: As I recall, Fencer did change the color of the Extinction Chess border not too long ago. Those of us that play it regularly didn't like it and he switched it back. How can the color of the border around the board make a difference? It says right next to the board what game it is. I'd rather have them all the same color with the name of the variant as it is, right next to the board. I've never had a problem telling the games apart. It says the game clearly in bold lettering. How could you miss it? Let alone from how the game develops or where the pieces get placed.

I agree with you that a victory won from my opponent's bad move is not as rewarding as when it is I that makes a good move, but it comes with the game in either case. This is one of the reasons I don't like the kanji or Japanese marked pieces. I'm at a severe disadvantage when forced to use them as compared to someone that knows them well or is Japanese. The directionally marked pieces put the game on equal footing and I only have myself to blame if I make a bad move, not the pieces that I can't tell apart. And my opponent can use the set that he prefers. Should be the same thing with the borders around the board. Let the player color it as he likes. It is still important to have the game type name next to it. If there are people that can't read or have grown dependent on having the border colored, then my suggestion of having the player himself choose the board coloring and border should work well for them and the rest of us can keep it as it is or add some color to the game as we'd like.